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Pak seeks US assurance against any fallout of Afghan surge | While cautiously welcoming President Obama's decision to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, Pakistan has asked the US to ensure that there would not be any fallout
for it following the massive surge. A Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson said
Washington has taken Islamabad on board regarding the new Afghan policy, but underlined
the need for the US to 'clarify' and 'coordinate' before the actual implementation
process starts. "Pakistan looks forward to engaging closely with the US in understanding
the full import of the new strategy and to ensure that there would be no fallout
for Pakistan," The News quoted the spokesperson, as saying. "Pakistan and the
US need to closely coordinate their efforts to achieve shared objectives. There
is certainly the need for clarity and coordination on all aspects of the implementation
of the strategy," he added. The Pakistani government has already expressed concerns
regarding the surge fearing that it might result in a spill over of insurgents
in the border areas along the Afghan border. Officials said the US must take Islamabad's
apprehensions into consideration while deploying troops in Afghanistan, and added
that focus should be on preventing the militants from sneaking into Pakistan.
"Pakistan would also like the troops inside Afghanistan to be re-enforced at the
Pak-Afghan borders so that there is little or no likelihood of infiltration,"
the spokesperson added. According to reports, out of the 30,000 additional American
troops to be deployed in Afghanistan in the summer of 2010, most will be sent
to the southern part of that country, as it is perceived to be the stronghold
of the Taliban. Two combat brigades, one from the Marines and one from the Army,
will go to the south, while another Army brigade will be sent to eastern Afghanistan,
the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, officials said. Army
combat brigades usually comprise about 5,000 soldiers. The flow of forces will
begin "in earnest" next month, the official said, and a majority of troops will
be deployed by next summer. Speaking to reporters at his headquarters in Kabul
on Wednesday, the American commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal,
said the new American deployment, along with expected NATO reinforcements, was
"sufficient." "I think that we're going to have exactly what we need to move forward,"
said the general, who had earlier sought a fourth brigade. |
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